Dhaka, Dec. 6 -- Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated again after heavy cross-border fire late Friday left four Afghan civilians dead, Afghan authorities said on Saturday.

Fighting erupted along the Spin Boldak-Chaman border around 10:30pm local time and continued for nearly two hours, officials and residents said. Both sides blamed each other for firing first.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistani forces of launching attacks toward Spin Boldak, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate. In contrast, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said Afghan forces carried out "unprovoked firing," adding that Pakistan remained alert to protect its territory and citizens.

Ali Mo...